Society Wives by Renee Flagler Read Free Book Online

Mike out of the den. They went in search of the two. She had to say something to Ryan. Surely she’d realized her mother had gone missing, too.
    Before she could say something, Aunt Bobbi asked, “Is Eddie watching the game with the guys? I want to get ready to head back to Queens and he drove.”
    â€œNo,” Vonnie said offering no speculation.
    Ryan looked up.
    â€œI was just looking for him so I can introduce him to Kevin. I can’t find him anywhere,” Nadine said.
    â€œMaybe he’s in the bathroom,” Aunt Bobbi said dismissively.
    â€œI checked all three of them. He’s not in any of them, but somebody dropped a load in the one downstairs. Um!” Nadine waved her hand in front of her nose.
    Ryan fidgeted, pulled out her phone and started texting. Vonnie knew she suspected the same thing.
    â€œWait!” Nadine looked around at the women in the room. “Where’s that cool white lady?” She looked at Ryan, whose face was turning red. “Oh. No offense.” She pardoned herself before continuing. “Did Uncle Eddie run off with the white woman?”
    Vonnie closed her eyes and took another deep breath.
    â€œLord, please tell me Eddie didn’t run off with that girl’s mama!” Aunt Bobbi sighed.
    Pearson giggled, took a sip of wine and sat up as if she didn’t want to miss the action. Nadalia looked like she was embarrassed for Ryan, who was texting frantically, her fingers flashing across the screen at lightning speed.
    After a moment she stood up, straightened her pencil skirt, which made her look even more narrow, and headed toward the den. Vonnie followed behind and watched her engage in a quick, but discreet discussion with Andy.
    â€œVonnie,” Ryan said with a nervous chuckle, “thanks for inviting us. I’m going to head home. Andy will catch a ride with Nadalia and Sage.”
    All the women watched as Ryan put on her coat, grabbed her purse and keys and rushed out.
    Minutes later, Uncle Eddie waltzed through the front door, humming and patting his pot belly as an unlit cigar hung from his mouth. He smiled through lipstick stains.
    Now Vonnie was more connected to Ryan than she’d ever imagined.

Chapter 9
    Nadalia
    The wind whirled as a car whipped down the street. Again—it wasn’t Sage. Nadalia stood in the window of her boudoir in a silk nightie and glanced back toward that clock. It was now after ten and she hadn’t heard from her husband since around lunchtime. He’d been working late for weeks while Nadalia was at home longing for even a smidgen of his attention.
    Fur season was here and business was booming for her too, but at least she managed to make it home at a reasonable time each night. She moved from the window—tore herself away from anticipating his arrival. When he did get home, he was usually too tired to bother anyway. Coming home, jumping in the shower, and passing out on the bed in boxers had become his routine. Back up at dawn, he’d shower again, splash a peck across her cheek on his way out and then, close the door on her loneliness. Nadalia would be lucky to get in a 10 minute phone conversation during the day, without hearing, “I’m running into a meeting,” or the emptiness of, “Can I call you back, babe?”
    It was the same each year, but this time she had trouble dealing.
    â€œI’m not going to cry!” she coached herself, holding her head high as she climbed into the bed that had grown cold. Unable to fall asleep, Nadalia pulled back the covers, sat up and looked around: The soft lighting, French linens, sheers hanging alongside the custom bed, and the painting of her in a white flowing nightie with Sage positioned behind her, topless wearing silk lounge pants as he stared into her eyes—all seemed for naught.
    Nadalia pushed the covers aside, stood up, and with her arms folded across her chest, she paced.
    â€œThink, Dali.”